Breathe by Donna Alward Page A

such a low opinion of yourself?”
    She flushed. “That’s not fair.”
    â€œYou are better than a cleaning lady. You deserve more. You deserve…”
    She took one step down so only one stair was between them.
    â€œI know what I deserve,” she answered in a low voice. “Do not put me on a Morelli pedestal anymore. I do not want to be there. There is no shame in doing honest work with your hands. At least I feel like I am being productive. Like I am contributing.”
    â€œYou don’t need to contribute. It is not what you were born for.”
    A hard ball of futility settled in her stomach. Not contribute? If she had nothing to contribute, whatever was she on this earth for, then? Did he really consider her above menial tasks? Or was there something more to it?
    â€œJace Willow, you are the worst kind of snob.” She took the final stair down and twisted her wrist, setting it free. “You always were. You carry a chip on your shoulder about being poor. About wanting more. About what constitutes shame and embarrassment. My shame is not that I cleaned a house or changed a diaper. My shame is being so spineless that I settled for less than I should have all along.”
    â€œOn that we agree, at least.”
    Her nostrils flared. “Yet you would do the same to me.”
    â€œI do not want to see you lowered.”
    â€œI have been as low as I ever care to go. I have not lowered myself. I have freed myself. There is a huge difference.”
    She spun away then and went upstairs.
    Jace watched her go, confused. What the hell had just happened? She was insulted? He’d been trying to say it wasn’t necessary for her to be his cleaning lady. She was so much more. Didn’t she realize how much? And she’d thrown it in his face and somehow made it his fault.
    She deserved better. And yet she kept choosing the wrong way. Did she think this was a way to do penance for bad choices? Because she didn’t belong in rubber gloves and an apron. She belonged in a beautiful dress with a glass of champagne in her hand. It was how he’d always seen her. She’d always been perfect to him. And he couldn’t accept anything less, not now.
    Because if she tumbled off of that pedestal, it was his fault, and he didn’t think he could handle going through the guilt one more time.
    He could see Matteo out of the window, kicking a ball on the grass, retrieving it and kicking it again. It looked lonely. It reminded him of himself as an only child, in the days before he’d had Alex to play with and Anna to torment.
    He didn’t want her to go. And it surprised him to realize he didn’t want the children to go either. Despite never wanting any, he was starting to get used to their presence. Matteo had been a delight today at the boat dealer, full of childish enthusiasm but with good manners. Half of the excitement had been seeing the brown eyes widen with awe at the sleek powerboats.
    He had to show Anna what he’d meant about the menial jobs. It angered him to think she now considered herself unworthy of fine things. She did deserve them. And more.
    He opened the door and called out softly. “Matteo.”
    The brown-topped head tipped up and the ball bounced away.
    â€œYou want to help me with a surprise?”

    â€œMama, put on a dress.”
    Anna fastened the last tab on Aurelia’s diaper and looked down at Matteo’s face with indulgence. “A dress. Whatever for?”
    â€œPlease, Mama.” He went to the closet and opened it, tugging on a linen sundress. “This is pretty. You put it on.”
    â€œWhat are you up to?”
    She took the hanger with the dress out of the closet before he pulled it off. His eyes sparkled up at her and she couldn’t help the smile that stretched across her face at his clear anticipation.
    â€œYou’ll put it on, right?” He nearly bounced with anticipation.
    She had an uneasy